Members of Syrian regime’s National Defense Forces reportedly flee to SDF areas

DAYRO ZCURO (DEIR EZ-ZOR), Syria — Dozens of militia members in the National Defense Forces (NDF) allied to the Syrian regime stationed on the western side of the Euphrates River fled to areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the other opposite bank.

Local news agency Ayn al-Furat reported that more than 30 members of the NDF in stationed in Al-Ashara and Al-Mayadeen, east of Dayro Zcuro (Deir ez-Zor), fled to areas controlled by the SDF after an increase of Islamic State (ISIS) attacks against them.

There has been an increase in the frequency and complexity of Islamic State attacks west of the Euphrates in recent weeks. Last week, a group of ISIS fighters conducted the first anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) attack on Syrian regime positions in Deir ez-Zor in nearly a year. ISIS published a video of the attack via one of its media outlets.

In response, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has sent its regulars to the source of the ISIS attacks, the Syrian desert (Badia).

Dozens of regime affiliated militiamen have been attacked by unknown assailants believed to be linked with ISIS. The attacks resulted in the killing and wounding of dozens of NDF members.

It was also reported that an unknown aircraft targeted a vehicle belonging the Iranian militias stationed near Abu Kamal on the Syrian–Iraqi border in the eastern countryside of Dayro Zcuro on Thursday evening.